Quote:
Originally Posted by Duskflight
@ Lonestar23
Rookpatch hesitated outside of the apprentices den, his green gaze flickering from its entrance to somewhere else in the camp, one of his front paws raised as if he wasn't sure he should approach the den. The training with Heartpaw was going slow, but he thought it was going well.. Or at least he hoped so anyways. He wasn't sure. He was never really sure of anything he felt.
But why should he be scared of going into the apprentice's den? It's not like the young cats would bully him or anything. Right? They should respect him because he was higher in rank than them... And most of them should be out training anyways right?
He mentally rehearsed just calling his apprentices name. But maybe... Maybe today shouldn't be a training day. Couldn't they just talk? Couldn't mentors and apprentice's just talk, was that normal? That's what he wanted to do right now. He felt he needed to be closer to Heartpaw, she was a nice young cat, she had never really hurt him in any way. And he felt like she needed someone to talk to. He could be that cat... Right?
Clearing his throat, the calico tom slowly, shakily, ducked into the apprentices den, whispering out in his usually stuttered, jittery voice, " H-H-Huh-Heart-art-p-p-paw-aw? Are-er you-who in h-here?"
It would take a moment for his eyes to adjust to the more dim light of the den, but he began to quickly scan over whatever forms were in the den, desperately trying to ignore any other cat that looked at him besides his apprentice. He remembered his days here, and they weren't nice. He didn't want to remember his days in this horrid den. But he wanted to see his apprentice so he would deal with the memories that surged back. |
Heartpaw raced through the territory alongside Rainpaw, both of them laughing as they went. "I'll race you!" Heartpaw mewed, even though they were already moving quickly. Rainpaw accepting her challenge, running behind her. Heartpaw was, of course, the fastest and won the race - ending at a tree that was up on a grassy hill. The breeze blew through their fur, and as they sat together, brown and white mingled with grey to form mixed puddles of color. The silence stretched on for what seemed to be an unbearable amount of time for the young she cat. "I'm sorry I ever abandoned you," Rainpaw said as they sat together, after a few minutes of silence. "No, I'm sorry. I should've been more accepting and helped you more." Heartpaw responded, her head lowering. Rainpaw looked at her, turning his head and suddenly their noses were only centimeters apart. Heartpaw could feel her heartbeat begin to race, and as though in slow motion, she almost felt his nose press against hers-
The apprentice awoke with a start, her heart racing just as it had in her dream. She felt as though she had actually experienced what had just happened, and shook her head quickly. There was no Rainpaw in the den - which Heartpaw couldn't help but be thankful for, she was so nervous that something bad was about to happen. Breathing a sigh of relief, the apprentice began grooming down her fur, which had stood on end when she had awoken. What a stupid dream! She thought with a snort, secretly wondering if that would ever really happen. She doubted it. They were friends, but it was a slower moving process then she had thought. Trust, apparently, didn't come back overnight. It was her fault that the friendship wasn't where it should be, but she just wasn't quite sure. Having a bully for a friend was weird.
It was everything she fought against. But he was so sweet, and kind with her, and she loved him - in a totally friendly way, of course. Though she was definitely crushing on him. Hearing Rookpatch's voice, the apprentice's ears pricked up and she got to her paws, stopping her grooming almost instantly. "Rookpatch?" Her voice was inquisitive, startled, even. He rarely came in here, if he ever had... she normally met him out in the clearing. She could see the small form of the calico clearly now, and her eyes brightened, a smile on her features. "Rookpatch, hi! I was going to come out in a little bit - I'm not late, am I?" The smile faltered a little bit, but continued just as brightly as she stepped forward to greet her mentor with a purr. The apprentice was growing into a lovely young cat - she was different then she had been on her first day of training, not quite as talkative, but just as friendly and eager to please. And she was still quite fond of her mentor.